Women Sues Former Landlord After ‘Burning’ Bites from Spider Infestation Allegedly Led to Amputation of Two Toes

A Florida woman is suing her former landlord, alleging that a persistent spider infestation in her apartment led to multiple bites — and ultimately the amputation of two toes.

In a lawsuit filed Nov. 25 in Pinellas County Court, Patricia Shields is seeking $50,000 from Grand Oak Apartments in Largo, Florida. She claims she was forced to move out after apartment management failed to address what she describes as an ongoing spider problem.

“It’s been a long year. I just want it to be over,” Shields told WBDJ. She said the bites were painful, describing a burning sensation. She also said the amputations have been difficult emotionally: “It’s embarrassing and I hate having to explain myself all the time.”

Shields, who moved into the unit in November 2024, alleges in the lawsuit that she first noticed spiders in her bathroom about two weeks after moving in. She claims they appeared to be coming from the bathroom vent.

After she reported the issue to management, Shields says she was told the property would only address cockroach infestations — and that she could pay to have the vents cleaned herself. The lawsuit notes that Shields is disabled, lives on a fixed income, and was renting the unit through the Section 8 program, which helps low-income tenants afford housing.

Shields says she later began experiencing bites — first on her forehead, then on her legs — which she claims required multiple doctor visits and ongoing treatment. At one point, she says she brought a “bag of spiders” to the leasing office, where staff allegedly told her they were “not venomous.”

The lawsuit further claims Shields identified one of the spiders as a brown recluse through online research. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control warns that venom from certain spiders can cause serious tissue damage and may require medical attention.

According to the complaint, in June 2025 Shields was leaving her bathroom when she was bitten on her big toe by a large brown spider. She alleges the injury worsened over time and resulted in her toe being amputated. She also claims a doctor warned she was “risking her life” by staying in the apartment, but that Grand Oak refused to release her from her lease.

The lawsuit says Shields suffered another spider bite in August 2025 that led to the amputation of a second toe.

Shields claims she has been homeless since moving out because she was not released from the lease. The lawsuit alleges she suffered a total of nine spider bites.